Himanta Biswa Sarma Flags Security Concerns Over Congress MP in Anti-Terror Delegation

Himanta Biswa Sarma Flags Security Concerns Over Congress MP in Anti-Terror Delegation

Last Updated May - 17 - 2025, 02:57 PM | Source : Fela News

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma raises national security concerns over a Congress MP's inclusion in India’s anti-terror delegations, citing alleged Pakistan links,

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday raised objections to the inclusion of a Congress MP from Assam in one of the proposed all-party delegations tasked with conveying India’s strong anti-terrorism stance to partner nations, following ‘Operation Sindoor’. His remarks could potentially trigger a fresh political controversy.

One of the MPs named in the list ( from Assam ) has not denied his prolonged stay in Pakistan—reportedly for two weeks—and credible documents show that his wife was drawing salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while working in India.

In the interest of national security and beyond… https://t.co/Y1thJAgMy8

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 17, 2025

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sarma questioned the selection of an MP who, he claimed, had not denied spending two weeks in Pakistan. He also alleged that credible documents show the MP’s wife received a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while residing in India. Sarma described the issue as a matter of national security and urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to reconsider the MP’s nomination for what he termed a “sensitive and strategic assignment.”

Sarma’s comments came shortly after Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed that the party had submitted four names in response to a request from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who had asked Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to suggest MPs for the international outreach mission.

The Congress submitted the names of Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Raja Brar on May 16. Interestingly, senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor—who on Friday said he had been invited by the government to lead one of the delegations—was not among the four officially recommended names. “By noon yesterday, May 16, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha had sent the names on behalf of the Congress party,” Ramesh stated.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on Saturday reiterated that the delegations aim to communicate India’s firm, united stand against terrorism to key partner countries, including United Nations Security Council members. “They will carry India’s unequivocal message of zero tolerance for terrorism,” the ministry said.

In light of Operation Sindoor and India’s broader campaign against cross-border terrorism, seven all-party delegations will be sent abroad later this month. Each group may visit around five nations and will include experienced diplomats.

The government has carefully chosen prominent MPs from across the political spectrum to lead each delegation. These include BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, Congress’ Shashi Tharoor, JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, DMK’s Kanimozhi, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde. Four leaders are from the ruling NDA, while three represent the opposition INDIA bloc.

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